Recommendations for winter hiking/mountaineering boots for the Northeast

So I'm looking for some winter boots for Adirondack objectives. Since I'm not planning anything too hardcore, do you think I can get away with a decent 3-season boot (I'm looking at the Trango Cube GTX and the La Sportiva Aequilibrium, for example). Since I mostly plan on doing some hiking, snowshoeing, and easy rock routes (no steep ice), I was hoping to avoid spending twice as much on a true 4-season boot. Any recommendations?

I personally do not wear three season mountain boots for Adirondack High Peaks in winter.  They don’t provide enough warmth “insurance” in case the temperature turns out to be lower than expected, or if you need to move slower than expected.

Although I wear insulated mountain boots (Kayland M 11), I think a pair of winter hiking boots would be the best option.  Most peaks can be hiked with snowshoes and microspikes and the hiking boots would be stiff enough for any short segments requiring (strap-on) crampons.  

Good luck deciding, and have (safe) fun adventures!

FWIW - I think day-long excursions require less boot than overnight outings. There's just something about putting my cool feet into semi-cold * boots in the morning. Plus you have the overnight low temps to deal with. Day trips OTOH can often be scheduled to avoid the coldest days.

* They stay in my sleeping bag at night

Yes, 3 season boots will do you fine

On all but the very coldest days three season boots will be fine. If you wear a four season boot you will go significantly slower, which is in its own way a safety concern. A comfortable boot, a pair of gaiters, micro spikes or trail crampons, and snowshoes, and you’ll be set for all but the absolutely frigid days. The 46ers in winter on a weekend day are not exactly lonesome excursions. You’ll have plenty of company on the trails and can look what others are wearing. 

Hiked the 115 in winter in a combination of:
* Salomon Heavy Winter Boots - Nice and warm, but easily wetted out from the inside - Issues with my feet sliding around on the downhills
* Vasque Arrowhead - Winter Boots with an integrated gaiter - Wide sized which helped with my fit
* Sportiva Crossover GTX - Winter trail runners with integrated gaiter

I did 20% in the salomon, 20% in the Vasque, and 60% in the trail runners. The trick with the trail runners for me was having a layering scheme. On reasonably cold days (down to 15-20) I'd just wear normal socks and the sneakers and keep moving, down to 10ish I actually stuffed insulation between the sneaker and gaiter which got me the extra warmth. Finally, on really cold days (and as my 'emergency puffy') were a pair of puffy insulated cycling booties. I also carried a pair of heavy socks and plastic bags so that I could have a backup plan if stranded.

So, anyways, I wouldn't want to peak bag in mountaineering boots. It all depends on your risk tolerance.

Mike V. wrote:

 I also carried a pair of heavy socks and plastic bags so that I could have a backup plan if stranded.

+1 for the extra socks and plastic bags, both for use out straight out of the car and backups for emergencies. Plastic bags can be used to keep socks/shoes wet from you (Sweat) or to keep new socks dry from already wet shoes.

Cold feet are pretty personal. If I'm hiking all day in <20F I like wearing Salomon Toundra boots (4 season). I like the insurance of not needing to worry about my feet. I would definitely avoid true mountaineering boots if you're only planning on non-technical ascents. The weight and comfort savings are huge and any boot can snowshoe/crampon up moderate slopes just fine. I do also use trail runners for shorter objectives, generally closer to home. Trail runners can be a great option, but you just really need to have your system dialed before committing to them in the mountains. An important thing to reiterate here is that if you decide to go lighter, you may just need to avoid hiking when the temperature drops below your system's limits, which is fine and keeps you from buying big, heavy boots you don't want.

Good luck!

Slartibartfast wrote:

So I'm looking for some winter boots for Adirondack objectives. Since I'm not planning anything too hardcore, do you think I can get away with a decent 3-season boot (I'm looking at the Trango Cube GTX and the La Sportiva Aequilibrium, for example). Since I mostly plan on doing some hiking, snowshoeing, and easy rock routes (no steep ice), I was hoping to avoid spending twice as much on a true 4-season boot. Any recommendations?

If you can live with some used boots, I would go that route. I found on MP a used set of La Sportiva Nepal EVO GTX for $250. They look brand new. I did have to buy some custom footbeds, but I would have had to do that with new anyway.

Thanks everyone! I don't usually like having a ton of weight on my feet, so I think I'll go with some 3-seasons.

Update for anyone asking the same question as me: I got the Trango Cube GTX and have found it more than adequate in moderate winter conditions. They've been up Mt. Marcy in December twice. I've had them out on lots of 15F days, all day in deep snow, and never been cold or wet. After 2 seasons, they're still waterproof enough to dip into a frozen river and stay dry. They are a little stiff when they first go on, but loosen up after a mile or so and I've my feet feel good (better than the rest of me, at least) after a 15-mile day.

The only time my feet have been cold was on a warm but windy (30F, 30MPH) day at the summit of Mt. Marcy. My guess is that the breathability that keeps the boots from getting swampy also works against you when exposed to a stiff breeze. So that may be a limiting factor in some environments.